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(Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet -1.

E. M. CARHART.

WATER WHEEL. No. 318,869. Patented May 26, 1885.

(Mode1.) Q 2 Sheets -Sheet 2; E. M. GARHART.

WATER WHEEL. N0. 318,869 Patented May 26, 1885.

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Md i m u PETERS. Photo-UMP. Washhgiem n c To all whom it may concern:

llrrn drains EDXVIN M. OARHART, OF PROVIDENCE, ItHODE ISLAND.

WATER- SPECIFICATION forming part WHEEL.

of Letters Patent No. 318,869, dated IVIay 26, 1885.

Application filed September 1, 1893. (Modem Be it known that I, EDWIN M. CARHART,Of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in \Vater Vheels, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my improvement is to produce a water-wheel which, while simple in construction, will develop a very high power from the water supplied to it.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of awater-wheel and curb or case embodying my improvement, the curb or case being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the wheel and curb, taken at the plane of the dotted line at m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section thereof, taken on the plane of the dotted liney y, Fig. 1. The basepiece of the curb-case is omitted from Figs. 2 and 3 to save space. Fig. 4 is a section taken lengthwise of the wheel and on the line of one of the blades or buckets.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A designates the water-wheel. It is shown as arranged with its axis in a vertical plane, and is intended, especially, for use in that position. Its hub or body a is smaller at the lower end than at the upper end. It may be of a regularly tapering or conical form from one end to the other, but preferably its upperportion will be approximately cylindric, and below that it will curve convexly, and then concavely toward the lower end. From the body a number of blades or buckets, b, extend. These blades or buckets extend in such directions widthwise as to approximate to tangents of the body, and in the direction of their length they conform to the contour of the body and extend spirally for short distances around the body. As shown, they are made integral with the body. In the body of the wheel, between the blades or buckets b, are cavities c. The sides of these cavities extend from the faces of the blades or buckets laterally, or, in other words, in the direction of the circumference of the body of the wheel, and they preferably extend at about right angles to the faces of the blades or buckets. The

backs of these cavities preferably extend abruptly from the sides, and the tops of the cavities, also preferably extend abruptly from the sides. The tops of the cavities, however, round or curve off longitudinally into the backs, the backs curve longitudinally toward the faces of the blades or buckets to a certain point, and below that point they curve and extend nearly parallel with the faces of the blades or buckets. The lower extremity of said cavity is preferably but a short distance below the large upper portion of the body, and terminates flush with the surface of the body in such manner that it has no bottom. At the upper end or top of the wheel a cap or flange, (1, extends from the body to the outer edges of the buckets or blades, confining the water in its proper place. The curb or case B conforms internally to the longitudinal pro file of theblades or buckets of the wheel; but the lower portion is elongated, so as to extend a considerable distance below the wheel,there by giving room for the water to discharge freely. The curb or case has a removable cover, B, and is shown as set upon a detachable basepiece, B A pipe, 0, communicates with the upper portion of the curb or case tangentially and supplies water thereto. It may communicate with the curb or case at one or more points. Thus I can increase the quantity of water,so as to increase the power, as required, at irregular distances apart, to overcome shock on the wheel, thereby securing steady motion. In this base is a cavity, e, which communicates with a pipe, D, whereby the water admitted to the curb or case, after operating on the wheel,is conducted away. The lower journal of the wheel is supported in a step-bearing in the base-piece, and its upper journal is supported in a bearing in the cover, or in an adjustable bearing arranged above the cover.

The form and shape of the wheel as above described is such as to obtain a double action of the water. The water,entering the curb or case at one or more points, acts against the faces of the blades or buckets of the wheel in a direct line at about right angles to them and near their outer edges. It takes a slightly downward course, deflecting from the blade or bucket toward the center of the wheel into the cavities c at or near the top, then taking and U ICO downward course and reacting at a lower point on the blades or buckets, thus adding to the impetus imparted to the wheel by the initial action of the water upon the blades or buckets. After the water has reacted upon the blades or buckets and wholly or nearly spent the force due to its momentum, it will gravitate to the lower end of the curb or case, and in so doing will im= part an additional impetus to the wheel by its action upon its inclined spiral portion of the blades or buckets. The circular or centrifugal force caused by the central discharge of the water from a tapering or conical wheel and curb or case also adds force to the movement of the wheel.

The peculiar construction of this wheel causes a multiple action of the water. The water accumulating in the lower portion of the curb or case after leaving the wheel fills this portion of the curb or case so completely that in escaping it produces a suction, or, to speak more correctly, a partial vacuum, whereby the flow of the water will be accelerat-ed and the speed of the wheel increased. The discharge or outlet being governed with relation to the supply will not retard the ac tion of the wheel by backwater.

The wheel may be made of metal, and the curb or case and cover and base-piece may also be made of metal or of any othersuitable material.

The wheel may of course be made of any suitable size or sizes.

WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A water-wheel having a body decreasing in size toward its lower end, blades or buckets conforming'to the contour of the body,extending therefrom and spirally around it, and cavities arranged in the body between the blades or buckets, and serving to direct water entering them upon the faces of the blades or buckets.

2. In a water-wheel, the body thereof having blades or buckets extending therefrom and spirally around the same, and cavities arranged therein between the blades or buckets, substantially as described, whereby Water upon entering acts against the faces of the blades or buckets, then is deflected and enters the cavities, and is subsequently directed by the curve of the cavity upon the lower portion of the blades or buckets.

3. A water-wheel having a body decreasing in size toward one end, blades or buckets conforming to the contour of the body,extending spirally around the same, and cavities arranged in the body between the blades, said cavities having their tops rounded into their backs, and the lower portions of the backs curved toward the opposite blades, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with a curb or case, of a water-wheel supported above the bottom thereof a distance sufficient to admit of a free discharge of water, said wheel having a body decreasing in size toward one end, blades or buckets extending spirally around the same, and cavities arranged in the body between the blades or buckets, substantially as specified.

EDWIN M. OARHART.

\Vitnesses:

FRANK S. POND, O. B. HAUXHURST. 

